Dawn and dusk matter not on overcast days. Thick clouds crawl across the sky during the night like burglars, stealing the moon and, come morning, the sun, too, with rain drenching the earth and infrastructure, all while wind gusts threaten trees and roofs. Such storms can huff and puff for anywhere from an hour to days. Sometimes they move on to neighboring towns and states, other times they evaporate into nothingness—but either/or, for the duration, the raucous weather serves as a reminder of nature’s power.
Of course, not all storm systems threaten harm. Sometimes they roll in, replenish the earth with needed rain, and move on. Joy, the fourth outing from Steady Sun, is just such a rain parade. It’s reminiscent of the psychedelic pastiches of the the storied 1960s—and, too, the fabled Paisley Underground of the ‘80s. The music is light and airy one moment, dark and dense the next, and always compelling.
Ostensibly nine tracks, it unreels like a symphonic suite sans orchestra (though flute, cello, and violin are present), with “You Are Swimming” serving as the prelude. “Mercy Vision,” which kicks off the first movement, is a laidback flashback, with the elements intertwining before “Little Death” delves into the midnight blues that sometimes develop when we least expect them. “Sundries,” for its part, floats forth like a slow-moving cumulus cloud from the horizon, while “Rosie” is genteel yet taut. “Felicity” could well be the start of the second section, while “Ruby Mountain” is a misty delight. “TMP” is another airy undertaking, with the closing “Sadness in the Way” serves as a perfect summation of all that came before.
Steady Sun, it should be noted, is the brainchild of composer, producer, and sound mixer Dylan Nowik, perhaps best known for playing guitar (and writing songs) with Clairo; he’s also worked with Lady Wray, Camp Saint Helene, and El Michels Affair, among others. He recorded Joy in L.A. with former Daptone engineer Wayne Gordon; backing him are Andrew Emge (drums), Wesley Harper (keyboards), Joe Harrison (flute, keyboards), Kevin Copeland (pedal steel), and Tim McNalley (cello, violin). Harmony vocals are provided by Holland Belle, Elizabeth Ibarra, and Paul Truitt.
The Old Grey Cat 